Press Releases

LED HelioJet cabin lighting certified for the Airbus A320 family

Use in scheduled flights/reduced maintenance costs

The first joint development of Lufthansa Technik and SCHOTT – the LED cabin lighting solution HelioJet – can now be experienced in normal airline operations; it has received a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from the European aviation authority EASA for the A320 aircraft family and is currently used for continental flights in an Airbus A319.

HelioJet has received a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from the European aviation authority EASA for the A320 aircraft family, and is currently used for continental flights in an Airbus A319. Photo: LHT

HelioJet delivers white light for extremely homogeneous and pleasant cabin lighting in passenger aircraft. Another advantage of the system is a significant reduction in maintenance costs.

"We are delighted that HelioJet has already received an STC for the A320 and is being used on scheduled flights," says Dr. Armin Plichta, General Manager of Transportation at SCHOTT Lighting and Imaging. "The solution's expected operational life amounts to at least 50,000 hours. This represents an enormous gain in longevity over customary fluorescent lights, which only last around 1,000 hours."

Andrew Muirhead, Director of Innovation at Lufthansa Technik AG, explains further: "Since Heliojet is a plug-and-play solution, a conversion from fluorescent lighting can be carried out in just two days – which applies to aircraft from the Airbus A320 family and in the future as well to the Boeing 737."

Light plays an important role in creating a pleasant atmosphere on board an aircraft. With HelioJet, the two companies have achieved their goal of creating an innovative lighting solution that durably offers passengers the comfort they desire. HelioJet requires only one-fifth as many light diodes as other LED lighting. This has a positive effect on reliability, maintenance and costs and makes the solution extremely attractive for any airline. LED lighting also boasts significantly better environmental compatibility than traditional fluorescent lighting with mercury vapors.

The solution's color version HelioJetTCS (True Color Stabilization), with colored and white LEDs will be launched in 2014. A total of 16 million colors, color sequences and color scenarios ensure that any mood lighting that can be imagined can also be created.

About the product:
HelioJet is based on an optical light converter at the ends of which two LEDs feed white light. Unlike conventional LED solutions, light is not generated by several connected diodes, but rather evenly mixed in the optical light converter. For this reason, HelioJet shines as homogeneously and brilliantly as a gas-filled fluorescent tube, yet it is much more durable and energy-efficient. In addition, the light beam and aperture angle can be adjusted precisely with HelioJet.

SCHOTT is an international technology group with more than 125 years of experience in the areas of specialty glass and materials and advanced technologies. SCHOTT ranks number one in the world with many of its products. Its core markets are the household appliance, energy, pharmaceuticals, electronics, optics, transportation and architecture industries. The company is strongly committed to contributing to its customers’ success and making SCHOTT an important part of people’s lives with high-quality products and intelligent solutions. SCHOTT is committed to managing its business in a sustainable manner and supporting its employees, society and the environment. The SCHOTT Group maintains close proximity to its customers with manufacturing and sales operations in 35 countries. Its workforce of approximately 16,000 employees generated worldwide sales of $2.6 billion (approximately 2.0 billion euros) for the 2011/2012 fiscal year.

The Lufthansa Technik Group, with more than 30 subsidiaries and about 26,000 employees worldwide, is one of the leading manufacturer-independent providers of services for the aviation industry. Lufthansa Technik is licensed internationally as a repair, production and development enterprise. The Group’s portfolio encompasses the entire spectrum of services in the areas of maintenance, repair, overhaul, modification and conversion, engines and components.